Crash box for vehicle

ABSTRACT

A crash box for a vehicle may include a front connection portion that is connected to both ends of a back beam of the vehicle, a rear connection portion that is connected to a side member of the vehicle, an intermediate connection portion for connecting the front connection portion and the rear connection portion, which is formed as a hollow box shape and through which a cut cross-section of a heptangular shape is formed in a vehicle width direction, and a plurality of reinforcement ribs formed at an inner space of the intermediate connection portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent ApplicationNumber 10-2014-0067946 filed Jun. 3, 2014, the entire contents of whichis incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a crash box for a vehicle, and moreparticularly, to a crash box for a vehicle which is installed between aside member and a back beam of a bumper which is positioned on a vehiclebody to absorb impact energy when a collision occurs.

2. Description of Related Art

Generally, a bumper of a vehicle is installed at a front side and a rearside of the vehicle to protect a vehicle body and a passenger when afront or rear collision occurs and further protects a hood, and anengine and various devices installed in an engine room and the like.

The bumper is provided with a bumper cover that forms an outer shape ofthe bumper, an energy absorber that dampens impact when a collisionoccurs and has a shape recovery function after the collision, and a backbeam (referred to as “bumper beam”) that supports the energy absorberand is installed on the side member wherein a crash box 3 for absorbingimpact energy when a collision occurs is installed between the back beam1 and the side member 2.

The crash box 3 is configured to absorb impact energy by beingcompress-deformed in an axial direction (front/rearward) in a case wherethe impact energy is applied to the bumper and the crash box may beconfigured to minimize the deformation of the side member so as tominimize a repair cost.

Further, the crash box needs to be configured to satisfy the regulationof the Research Council for Automobile Repairs (RCAR), which is referredto as a representative regulation of the automobile industrial field.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the related art, there existed only a cornertest way that evaluates compress-deformation performance by applying animpact D of a diagonal direction to the back beam 1 of a vehicle in aconventional RCAR performance test. However, recently a center test wayhas been added, which evaluates a load support performance by applyingan impact F of an axial direction of a vehicle to a middle portion ofthe back beam 1.

Meanwhile, a conventional crash box 3 is formed to have cross-section ofa circular shape or a quadrangular shape as shown in FIG. 2, or anoctagonal shape as shown in FIG. 3, wherein when it is formed to havecross-section of an octagonal shape which has a high sectionalcoefficient, an RCAR corner test obtains a high performance satisfactiondegree.

However, when the crash box 3 is formed to have cross-section of anoctagonal shape, it is advantageous for a compress-deformation, but itis disadvantageous in supporting the load, and thus it does notefficiently respond to an RCAR center test. Further, when the crash box3 is formed to have cross-section of a quadrangular shape, it isadvantageous in supporting the load and thus it efficiently responds toan RCAR center test but it is disadvantageous for thecompress-deformation and thus it does not efficiently respond to theRCAR corner test.

Accordingly, there needs to be developed a crash box having an optimumshape which is advantageous in responding to both the RCAR corner testand RCAR center test.

The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section isonly for enhancement of understanding of the general background of theinvention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form ofsuggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to aperson skilled in the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing acrash box for a vehicle, which can satisfy simultaneously RCAR cornertest and center test through optimizing a sectional shape and furtheraim to lighten the weight.

According to various aspects of the present invention, a crash box for avehicle may include a front connection portion that is connected to bothends of a back beam of the vehicle, a rear connection portion that isconnected to a side member of the vehicle, an intermediate connectionportion for connecting the front connection portion and the rearconnection portion, which is formed as a hollow box shape and throughwhich a cut cross-section of a heptangular shape is formed in a vehiclewidth direction, and a plurality of reinforcement ribs formed at aninner space of the intermediate connection portion.

The intermediate connection portion may have a cross-section of aheptangular shape which is formed by connecting a pair of vertical sidesformed in parallel, a pair of horizontal sides formed in parallel, andthree inclined sides that each connect slantly each vertical and thehorizontal side, the pair of vertical sides may include an inner sidearranged in an inner side direction of the vehicle and an outer sidearranged in an outer side direction of the vehicle, the pair ofhorizontal sides may include an upper side arranged in an upper sidedirection of the vehicle and a lower side arranged in a lower sidedirection of a vehicle; and the reinforcement rib may include ahorizontal rib for connecting the inner side and the outer side and avertical rib for connecting the upper side and the lower side.

Both ends of the horizontal rib may connect the inner side and the outerside at an intermediate location between the upper side and the lowerside, both ends of the vertical rib may connect the upper side and thelower side at an intermediate location between the inner side and theouter side, and the horizontal rib and the vertical rib may be connectedin a cross shape.

The horizontal rib and the vertical rib may be connected entirely alonga front/rear length direction of the intermediate connection portion.

The inner side and the upper side may be connected at an angle of 90degrees to form a reinforcement portion and the reinforcement portionmay be arranged in an inner side direction of the vehicle.

The crash box may be formed of plastic.

A guide pin may be connected to the rear connection portion, whichguides an assembly location when assembled with the side member.

A crash box for a vehicle according to various embodiment of the presentinvention may include a front connection portion connected to both endsof a back beam of the vehicle; a rear connection portion connected to aside member of the vehicle, an intermediate connection portion forconnecting the front connection portion and the rear connection portion,formed as a hollow box shape and through which a cross-section of aheptangular shape is formed in a vehicle width direction, and aplurality of pipe tubes formed along a front/rear length direction ofthe intermediate connection portion.

The intermediate connection portion may have the cross-section of theheptangular shape which is formed by connecting a pair of vertical sidesformed in parallel, a pair of horizontal sides formed in parallel, andthree inclined sides that connect slantly the vertical sides and thehorizontal sides, the pair of vertical sides may include an inner sidearranged in an inner side direction of a vehicle and an outer sidearranged in an outer side direction of a vehicle, the pair of horizontalsides may include an upper side arranged in an upper side direction ofthe vehicle and a lower side arranged in a lower side direction of thevehicle, the inner side and the upper side are connected at an angle of90 degrees to form a reinforcement portion, and each pipe tube may bedisposed on the reinforcement portion and each of the three inclinedsides.

The reinforcement portion may be arranged in an inner side direction ofthe vehicle.

The crash box may be formed of plastic.

A guide pin may be connected to the rear connection portion, whichguides an assembly location when assembled with the side member.

A crash box for a vehicle according to various embodiments of thepresent invention may include a front connection portion connected toboth ends of a back beam of the vehicle, a rear connection portion thatis connected to a side member of the vehicle, an intermediate connectionportion for connecting the front connection portion and the rearconnection portion, which is formed as a hollow box shape and throughwhich a cross-section of a heptangular shape is formed in a vehiclewidth direction, a plurality of reinforcement ribs formed at an innerspace of the intermediate connection portion, and a plurality of pipetubes formed along a front/rear length direction of the intermediateconnection portion.

The intermediate connection portion may have the cross-section of theheptangular shape which is formed by connecting a pair of vertical sidesformed in parallel, a pair of horizontal sides formed in parallel andthree inclined sides that connect slantly the vertical sides and thehorizontal sides, the pair of vertical sides may include an inner sidearranged in an inner side direction of a vehicle and an outer sidearranged in an outer side direction of the vehicle, the pair ofhorizontal sides may include an upper side arranged in an upper sidedirection of the vehicle and a lower side arranged in a lower sidedirection of the vehicle, the inner side and the upper side areconnected at an angle of 90 degrees to form a reinforcement portion, thereinforcement rib may include a horizontal rib for connecting the innerside and the outer side and a vertical rib for connecting the upper sideand the lower side, and each pipe tube may be disposed on thereinforcement portion and each of the three inclined sides.

Both ends of the horizontal rib may connect the inner side and the outerside at an intermediate location between the upper side and the lowerside, both ends of the vertical rib may connect the upper side and thelower side at an intermediate location between the inner side and theouter side, and the horizontal rib and the vertical rib may be connectedin a cross shape.

The horizontal rib and the vertical rib may be connected entirely alonga front/rear length direction of the intermediate connection portion.

The reinforcement portion may be arranged in an inner side direction ofthe vehicle.

The crash box may be formed of plastic.

A guide pin may be connected to the rear connection portion, whichguides an assembly location when assembled with the side member.

A crash box for a vehicle according to various embodiments of thepresent invention may include a front connection portion connected toboth ends of a back beam of the vehicle, a rear connection portion thatis connected to a side member of the vehicle, a plurality of pipe tubeswhich connect the front connection portion and the rear connectionportion and are arranged on four corners up/downward and left/rightwardby a sectional arrangement cut in a vehicle width direction, anintermediate connection portion for connecting the front connectionportion, the rear connection portion, and each pipe tube, which isadjacent to the front and rear connection portions and formed as ahollow box shape, and a plurality of reinforcement ribs formed at aninner space of the intermediate connection portion.

The crash box for a vehicle may further include a reinforcement pipethat is arranged to be inserted into each pipe tube.

The intermediate connection portion may include a pair of vertical sidesformed in parallel and a pair of horizontal sides formed in parallel,the pair of vertical sides may include an inner side arranged in aninner side direction of the vehicle and connecting upper and lower pipetubes at an inner side direction of the vehicle and an outer sidearranged in an outer side direction of the vehicle and connecting theupper and lower pipe tubes at an outer side of the vehicle, the pair ofhorizontal sides may include an upper side arranged in an upper sidedirection of a vehicle and connecting the upper pipe tubes that arearranged at the inner and the outer side directions of the vehicle and alower side arranged in a lower side direction of the vehicle andconnecting the lower pipe tubes arranged at the inner and the outer sidedirections of the vehicle, and the reinforcement rib may include ahorizontal rib for connecting the inner side and the outer side and avertical rib for connecting the upper side and the lower side.

Both ends of the horizontal rib may connect the inner side and the outerside at an intermediate location between the upper side and the lowerside, both ends of the vertical rib may connect the upper side and thelower side at an intermediate location between the inner side and theouter side, and the horizontal rib and the vertical rib may be connectedin a cross shape.

The horizontal rib and the vertical rib may be connected entirely alonga front/rear length direction of the intermediate connection portion.

The reinforcement pipe may be press-inserted into each pipe tube and thereinforcement pipe may be formed of plastic.

It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other similarterm as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such aspassenger automobiles including sports utility vehicles (SUV), buses,trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety ofboats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles,electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-poweredvehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived fromresources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicleis a vehicle that has two or more sources of power, for example bothgasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles.

The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other featuresand advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in moredetail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, andthe following Detailed Description, which together serve to explaincertain principles of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a crash box installed betweena back beam of a bumper and a side member according to the related art.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 1, whichillustrates a conventional crash box formed to have cross-section of aquadrangular shape according to the related art.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another conventional crash boxformed to have cross-section of an octagonal shape according to therelated art.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary crash boxaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary crash boxaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary crash boxaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are perspective views illustrating an exemplarycrash box according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 10.

It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarilyto scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of variousfeatures illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. Thespecific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein,including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations,and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intendedapplication and use environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of thepresent invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) willbe described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will beunderstood that the present description is not intended to limit theinvention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, theinvention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplaryembodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalentsand other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined by the appended claims.

A crash box 10 according to various embodiments of the presentinvention, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, may include a front connectionportion 11 that is connected to both ends of a back beam 1, a rearconnection portion 12 that is connected to a side member 2 (referring toFIG. 1), an intermediate connection portion 13 for connecting the frontconnection portion 11 and the rear connection portion 12, which isformed as a hollow box shape and through which a cut cross-section of aheptangular shape is formed in a vehicle width direction, and aplurality of reinforcement ribs 14 formed at an inner space of theintermediate connection portion 13.

That is, the intermediate connection portion 13 of the crash box 10according to an embodiment of the present invention is formed to havethe cross-section of a heptangular shape and thus it is advantageous fora compress-deformation thereby to implement a high performancesatisfaction degree when an RCAR corner test is performed, and further,a sufficient rigidity is maintained through the plurality ofreinforcement ribs 14 and thus the intermediate connection portion 13 isadvantageous in responding to an RCAR center test.

The intermediate connection portion 13 is configured to have thecross-section of a heptangular shape which is formed by connecting apair of vertical sides 131 formed in parallel, a pair of horizontalsides 132 formed in parallel, and 3 inclined sides 133 that diagonallyconnect the vertical sides 131 and the horizontal sides 132. Here, thepair of vertical sides 131 consists of an inner side 131 a arranged inan inner side direction of the vehicle and an outer side 131 b arrangedin an outer side direction of the vehicle, the pair of horizontal sides132 consists of an upper side 132 a arranged in an upper side directionof the vehicle and a lower side 132 b arranged in a lower side directionof the vehicle, and each reinforcement rib 14 consists of a horizontalrib 14 a for connecting the inner side 131 a and the outer side 131 band a vertical rib 14 b for connecting the upper side 132 a and thelower side 132 b.

Both ends of the horizontal rib 14 a may connect the inner side 131 aand the outer side 131 b at an intermediate location between the upperside 132 a and the lower side 132 b so as to be able to uniformlyimprove the rigidity of the upper and lower parts of the vertical side131 based on the horizontal rib 14 a.

Further, both ends of the vertical rib 14 b may connect the upper side132 a and the lower side 132 b at an intermediate location between theinner side 131 a and the outer side 131 b so as to be able to uniformlyimprove the rigidity of the left and right parts of the horizontal side132 based on the vertical rib 14 b.

Additionally, the intermediates of the horizontal rib 14 a and thevertical rib 14 b are crossed at a right angle, thereby uniformlyimproving the rigidity of the crash box 10 in the upward/downward andleftward/rightward.

In addition, the horizontal rib 14 a and the vertical rib 14 b may beconnected entirely along a front/rear length direction of theintermediate connection portion 13 thereby to improve entirely therigidity of the intermediate connection portion 13 along a front/rearlength direction.

Meanwhile, the inner side 131 a and the upper side 132 a are connectedat an angle of 90 degrees to form a reinforcement portion R and thereinforcement portion R is arranged in an inner side direction of thevehicle.

The reinforcement portion R is a part on which impact energy isconcentrated when an RCAR corner test is performed, where it connectsthe inner side 131 a and the upper side 132 a at an angle of 90 degreesthereby to maintain sufficient rigidity thereon.

The crash box 10 according to various embodiments of the presentinvention may be formed of plastic thereby to be light-weight andimprove fuel efficiency.

Further, a guide pin 15 is connected to the rear connection portion 12,which guides an assembly location when it is assembled with the sidemember 2, where the guide pin 15 is inserted into a guide hole formedthrough the side member 2 to regulate the assembly location of the crashbox 10.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the crash box 30 according various embodimentsof the present invention wherein the crash box 30 may include a frontconnection portion 31 that is connected to both ends of a back beam 1, arear connection portion 32 that is connected to a side member 2(referring to FIG. 1), an intermediate connection portion 33 forconnecting the front connection portion 31 and the rear connectionportion 32, which is formed as a hollow box shape and through which acut cross-section of a heptangular shape is formed in a vehicle widthdirection, and a plurality of pipe tubes 34 formed along a front/rearlength direction of the intermediate connection portion 33.

That is, the intermediate connection portion 33 of the crash box 30according to various embodiments of the present invention is formed tohave cross section of a heptangular shape and thus it is advantageousfor a compress-deformation thereby to implement a high performancesatisfaction degree when an RCAR corner test is performed, and further asufficient rigidity is maintained through the plurality of pipe tubes 34and thus it is advantageous in responding to an RCAR center test.

The intermediate connection portion 33 is configured to havecross-section of a heptangular shape which is formed by connecting apair of vertical sides 331 formed in parallel, a pair of horizontalsides 332 formed in parallel, and 3 inclined sides 333 that diagonallyconnect the vertical sides 331 and the horizontal sides 332. Here, thepair of vertical sides 331 consists of an inner side 331 a arranged inan inner side direction of a vehicle and an outer side 331 b arranged inan outer side direction of a vehicle, the pair of horizontal sides 332consists of an upper side 332 a arranged in an upper side direction of avehicle and a lower side 332 b arranged in a lower side direction of avehicle, the inner side 331 a and the upper side 332 a are connected atan angle of 90 degrees to form the reinforcement portion R, and the pipetube 34 is disposed on the reinforcement portion R and the inclined side333.

The reinforcement portion R is arranged in an inner side direction of avehicle, the crash box 30 may be formed of plastic, and a guide pin 35is connected to the rear connection portion 32, which guides an assemblylocation when it is assembled with the side member 2.

FIGS. 8 to 9 illustrate the crash box 50 according to another embodimentof the present invention in which the crash box 50 may include a frontconnection portion 51 that is connected to both ends of a back beam 1, arear connection portion 52 that is connected to a side member 2(referring to FIG. 1), an intermediate connection portion 53 forconnecting the front connection portion 51 and the rear connectionportion 52, which is formed as a hollow box shape and through which acut cross-section of a heptangular shape is formed in a vehicle widthdirection, a plurality of reinforcement ribs 54 formed at an inner spaceof the intermediate connection portion 53; and a plurality of pipe tubes55 formed along a front/rear length direction of the intermediateconnection portion 53.

That is, the intermediate connection portion 53 of the crash box 50according to various embodiments of the present invention is formed tohave the cross-section of a heptangular shape and thus it isadvantageous for a compress-deformation thereby to implement a highperformance satisfaction degree when an RCAR corner test is performed,and further a sufficient rigidity is maintained through the plurality ofreinforcement ribs 54 and the plurality of pipe tubes 34 and thus it isadvantageous in responding to an RCAR center test.

The intermediate connection portion 53 is configured to have thecross-section of a heptangular shape which is formed by connecting apair of vertical sides 531 formed in parallel, a pair of horizontalsides 532 formed in parallel, and 3 inclined sides 533 that connectslantly the vertical sides 531 and the horizontal sides 532. Here, theone pair of vertical sides 531 consists of an inner side 531 a arrangedin an inner side direction of a vehicle and an outer side 531 b arrangedin an outer side direction of a vehicle, the one pair of horizontalsides 532 consists of an upper side 532 a arranged in an upper sidedirection of a vehicle and a lower side 532 b arranged in a lower sidedirection of a vehicle, the inner side 531 a and the upper side 532 aare connected at an angle of 90 degrees to form the reinforcementportion R, the reinforcement rib 54 consists of a horizontal rib 54 afor connecting the inner side 531 a and the outer side 531 b and avertical rib 54 b for connecting the upper side 532 a and the lower side532 b, and the pipe tube 55 is disposed on the reinforcement portion Rand the 3 inclined sides 533.

Both ends of the horizontal rib 54 a may connect the inner side 531 aand the outer side 531 b at an intermediate location between the upperside 532 a and the lower side 532 b, and further, both ends of thevertical rib 54 b may connect the upper side 532 a and the lower side532 b at an intermediate location between the inner side 531 a and theouter side 531 b wherein the horizontal rib 54 a and the vertical rib 54b are connected in a cross shape.

In addition, the horizontal rib 54 a and the vertical rib 54 b may beconnected entirely along a front/rear length direction of theintermediate connection portion 53, the reinforcement portion R isarranged in an inner side direction of a vehicle, the crash box 50 maybe formed of plastic, and a guide pin 56 is connected to the rearconnection portion 52, which guides an assembly location when it isassembled with the side member 2.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the crash box 70 according to variousembodiments of the present invention wherein the crash box 70 mayinclude a front connection portion 71 that is connected to both ends ofa back beam 1, a rear connection portion 72 that is connected to a sidemember 2 (referring to FIG. 1), a plurality of pipe tubes 75 whichconnect the front connection portion 71 and the rear connection portion72 and are arranged on four corners up/downward and left/rightward by asectional arrangement cut in a vehicle width direction, an intermediateconnection portion 73 for connecting the front connection portion 71,the rear connection portion 72, and the pipe tube 75, which is adjacentto the front and rear connection portions and formed as a hollow boxshape; and a plurality of reinforcement ribs 74 formed at an inner spaceof the intermediate connection portion 73.

Further, the crash box 70 may further include a reinforcement pipe 77that is arranged to be inserted into the pipe tube 75.

The reinforcement pipe 77 greatly increases the rigidity of the wholecrash box 70 through strength reinforcement of the pipe tube 75 in whichone reinforcement pipe 77 is press-inserted into each pipe tube 75 andis formed of plastic so as to be light-weight.

The intermediate connection portion 73 of the crash box 70 according tovarious embodiments of the present invention is configured to connectthe pipe tubes 75 that are installed by a quadrangular arrangement andthus it is advantageous for a compress-deformation thereby to implementa high performance satisfaction degree when an RCAR corner test isperformed, and further, a sufficient rigidity is maintained through theplurality of reinforcement ribs 74 and the plurality of pipe tubes 75and thus it is advantageous in responding to an RCAR center test.

The intermediate connection portion 73 consists of, as shown in FIG. 11,a pair of vertical sides 731 formed in parallel and a pair of horizontalsides 732 formed in parallel wherein the one pair of vertical sides 731consists of an inner side 731 a that is arranged in an inner sidedirection of a vehicle and connects the upper and lower pipe tubes 75 atan inner side and an outer side 731 b that is arranged in an outer sidedirection of a vehicle and connects the upper and lower pipe tubes 75 atan outer side, the one pair of horizontal sides 732 consists of an upperside 732 a that is arranged in an upper side direction of a vehicle andconnects the upper pipe tubes 75 that are arranged at inner and outersides and a lower side 732 b that is arranged in a lower side directionof a vehicle and connects the lower pipe tubes 75 that are arranged atinner and outer sides, and the reinforcement rib 74 consists of ahorizontal rib 74 a for connecting the inner side 731 a and the outerside 731 b and a vertical rib 74 b for connecting the upper side 732 aand the lower side 732 b.

Both ends of the horizontal rib 74 a may connect the inner side 731 aand the outer side 731 b at an intermediate location between the upperside 732 a and the lower side 732 b, and further, both ends of thevertical rib 74 b may connect the upper side 732 a and the lower side732 b at an intermediate location between the inner side 731 a and theouter side 731 b wherein the horizontal rib 74 a and the vertical rib 74b are connected in a cross shape.

The horizontal rib 74 a and the vertical rib 74 b are connected entirelyalong a front/rear length direction of the intermediate connectionportion 73, the crash box 70 may be formed of plastic, and a guide pin76 is connected to the rear connection portion 72, which guides anassembly location when it is assembled with the side member 2.

As described above, according to the crash box of the present invention,the intermediate connection portion is configured to have cross-sectionof a heptagonal shape so as to maintain impact absorption and rigidityand thus it is advantageous for a compress-deformation, therebyimplementing a high performance satisfaction degree when an RCAR cornertest is performed. Further a sufficient rigidity is maintained throughthe plurality of reinforcement ribs and the plurality of pipe tubes andthus it is advantageous in responding to an RCAR center test.

In addition, the crash box according to various embodiments of thepresent invention may be formed of plastic thereby to be light-weightand improve fuel efficiency.

For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appendedclaims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “inner” and “outer” are used todescribe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to thepositions of such features as displayed in the figures.

The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in orderto explain certain principles of the invention and their practicalapplication, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make andutilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as wellas various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended thatthe scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto andtheir equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A crash box for a vehicle comprising: a frontconnection portion connected to both ends of a back beam of the vehicle;a rear connection portion that is connected to a side member of thevehicle; an intermediate connection portion for connecting the frontconnection portion and the rear connection portion, formed as a hollowbox shape and through which a cross-section of a heptangular shape isformed in a vehicle width direction; a plurality of reinforcement ribsformed at an inner space of the intermediate connection portion; and aplurality of pipe tubes formed along a front/rear length direction ofthe intermediate connection portion.
 2. The crash box for the vehicle ofclaim 1, wherein the intermediate connection portion is configured tohave the cross-section of the heptangular shape which is formed byconnecting a pair of vertical sides formed in parallel, a pair ofhorizontal sides formed in parallel, and three inclined sides thatconnect slantly the vertical sides and the horizontal sides, wherein thepair of vertical sides includes an inner side arranged in an inner sidedirection of the vehicle and an outer side arranged in an outer sidedirection of the vehicle, wherein the pair of horizontal sides includesan upper side arranged in an upper side direction of the vehicle and alower side arranged in a lower side direction of the vehicle, whereinthe inner side and the upper side are connected at an angle of 90degrees to form a reinforcement portion, wherein the reinforcement ribincludes a horizontal rib for connecting the inner side and the outerside and a vertical rib for connecting the upper side and the lowerside, and wherein each pipe tube is disposed on the reinforcementportion and each of the three inclined sides.
 3. The crash box for thevehicle of claim 2, wherein both ends of the horizontal rib connect theinner side and the outer side at an intermediate location between theupper side and the lower side, both ends of the vertical rib connect theupper side and the lower side at an intermediate location between theinner side and the outer side, and the horizontal rib and the verticalrib are connected in a cross shape.
 4. The crash box for the vehicle ofclaim 2, wherein the horizontal rib and the vertical rib are connectedentirely along a front/rear length direction of the intermediateconnection portion.
 5. The crash box for a vehicle of claim 2, whereinthe reinforcement portion is arranged in an inner side direction of thevehicle.
 6. The crash box for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the crashbox is formed of plastic.
 7. The crash box for the vehicle of claim 1,wherein a guide pin is connected to the rear connection portion, whichguides an assembly location when assembled with the side member.